Camera and image processing method

ABSTRACT

A camera system and method provide a trailing motion blur effect without the use of a flash. In one embodiment, a variable light-transmissive filter is positioned in front of an image sensor. While the light-transmissive property of the filter is lower, the blurred image of the object in motion is produced. The light-transmissive property of the filter is increased during the exposure in order to produce a clearer image of the object. In a method, a plurality of images taken in rapid succession are combined to produce a clear image of the object with a trailing blurred image of the object.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates generally to photography and more particularly to an improved digital camera and method that provides a desirable motion blur effect.

When shooting action scenes, such as sports, photographers make an artistic decision regarding shutter speed. A fast shutter speed can freeze the action in clear, sharp detail. A slower shutter speed will show some “motion blur” for the faster moving objects or people in the scene. Sometimes the photographer chooses a shutter speed such that the fast-moving objects (e.g. ball, baseball bat, arm throwing a ball, etc) are somewhat blurred, but the relatively stationary objects (including the subject's face) are sharp. A properly chosen shutter speed can provide a sense of the motion in the scene while still providing sharp detail for most of the scene.

Additionally, with the use of a flash, there are additional options for the action photographer. By choosing a shutter speed long enough to show some motion blur and by setting the flash to occur at the end of the duration in which the shutter is open (sometimes known as “rear-curtain sync” or “second curtain sync”), the photo can have motion blur that appears to trail a fairly clear image of the object in motion.

SUMMARY

A camera according to several embodiments and an image processing method provide the ability to provide trailing motion blur without a flash. A flash is not always suitable or appropriate in a particular setting. The flash can be disruptive to other spectators or the participants in the activity being photographed. The action may be outside where it is too bright or the action is too far to effectively use the flash for rear-curtain sync motion blur effect.

Several embodiments of the present invention provide the trailing motion blur effect without a flash, but with novel hardware arrangements. Other embodiments provide this effect with standard (or at least available) hardware, but with novel software. It is also contemplated that the disclosed novel hardware and software could have other uses and could provide effects other than trailing motion blur.

In one embodiment, a variable light-transmissive filter is positioned in front of an image sensor. While the light-transmissive property of the filter is lower, the blurred image of the object in motion is produced during a longer period of exposure. The light-transmissive property of the filter is increased toward the end the exposure in order to produce a clearer image of the object at the end of the exposure.

In a method, a plurality of images taken in rapid succession are combined to produce a clear image of the object with a trailing blurred image of the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a camera system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a camera system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a camera system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera system of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5-9 is an example series of image arrays for explaining a method according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an example of an image array resulting from a single iteration of the smear function applied to the image arrays of FIGS. 5-9.

FIG. 11 is an example protection array that was created in the first iteration of the smear function.

FIG. 12 is an image depicting the smeared array after the second iteration of the smear function.

FIG. 13 is a view of the protection array after the second iteration of the smear array.

FIG. 14 is an image depicting the smeared array after the third iteration of the smear function.

FIG. 15 is an image depicting the last smeared array created by the completion of the smear function process.

FIG. 16 is an image depicting the result of the overlay function (overlaid array).

FIG. 17 is a schematic of a general purpose computer that could be used to perform the method illustrated by FIGS. 5-16.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 schematically shows one embodiment of a camera 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The camera 10 includes a lens 12 in front of an aperture 14. The camera 10 further includes a shutter 16 and CCD 18 (“CCD” is used generically to mean any technology of image capture, such as CMOS, CCD or other sensors for converting light to electronic signals). An image processor 20 (cpu) receives the electronic signals representing the image captured by the CCD 16.

Although shown in greatly simplified form, these components are intended to be as is generally known with the exception of the control of the aperture 14. In FIG. 1, the camera 10 is in a special mode that can be selected by the user for providing desired motion blur. In this mode, the aperture 14 of the lens 12 receives an input function 22 controlled by the image processor 20. The input function 22 opens the aperture 14 a small amount initially, during most of the exposure. Then the input function 22 opens the aperture 14 much wider briefly at the end of the exposure. Of course, the aperture 14 cannot change from one setting to another instantaneously. Some slope on the change in aperture 14 is acceptable, but faster is better. The much wider aperture period is preferably less than one-fifth of the total exposure time, and more preferably less than one-tenth of the total exposure time. Optionally, the ratio of the time of the much wider aperture opening to the total exposure time is user-adjustable. The desired ratio will depend on the speed of the action that is being photographed.

Thus for an exposure during which the desired motion blur input function 22 is selected by the user, the moving object (such as a ball, car or person) will be moving during the initial, longer period in which the aperture is open a lesser amount, creating a blur in the image received by CCD 18. During the period in which the aperture is opened wider, more light is being passed onto CCD 18 in a much shorter period of time, so a clearer, brighter, higher-contrast image of the object appears at the end of the blurred portion of the image. As known with rear-curtain sync, this provides the desirable effect of a clear image of the object with motion blur trailing behind the object.

FIG. 2 shows a camera 10A according to second embodiment of the present invention. The camera 10A also can selectively provide desired motion blur effect in images, as well as some other effects. The camera 10A includes several components of the first embodiment, which retain the same reference numerals, including a lens 12 and image processor 20; however, camera 10A includes two shutters 16, each in front of one of two CCDs 18. A prism 30 is arranged between the lens 12 and the two shutters 16 so that the same image from the lens 12 passes through both shutters 16 and onto both CCDs 18 simultaneously.

In operation, when the desired motion blur effect is selected by the user, the CCDs 18 are set to different sensitivities (e.g. ISO settings) and the shutters 16 are set to different shutter speeds that correspond to their respectively associated CCDs 18. One shutter 16 is set to a slower shutter speed and the other shutter 16 is set to a much faster shutter speed. Again, the amplification of the light is set in each of the CCDs 18 to provide a good image from each shutter 16. The slower shutter 16 is open for the entire exposure and the faster shutter 16 is open only at the very end of the exposure, with both shutters closing again simultaneously (or nearly so). Alternatively, the slower shutter 16 closes during the time that the faster shutter 16 is open.

Two images are thus provided to the image processor. A first image from the slower shutter 16 provides motion blur of the object in motion. The second image provides a sharp, higher-contrast image of the object in motion, positioned at the end of the motion blur of the object in the first image. The image processor 20 combines the two images to provide a single image with the desired effect of the motion blur trailing behind the clear, high-contrast image of the object. This level of image combination is well-known and is provided by several existing in-camera processors.

Alternatively, instead of adjusting the amplification of the CCDs 18 differently, a neutral density filter could be provided in the light path of the slower shutter 16 (between the prism 30 and the shutter 16 or between the shutter 16 and the CCD 18). The neutral density filter is preferably at least several full stops (e.g. three full stops). An electronically adjustable neutral density filter could also be provided so that the difference in shutter speeds between the two shutters 16 can be adjustable (either by the user or automatically by a computer processor).

A camera system 10B according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the lens 12, shutter 16, aperture 14, CCD 18 and image processor 20 are all as is known in an existing digital camera 50 that has a capability of providing a rear-curtain sync function with a flash (for example an Nikon D700 or D80).

Additionally, in this embodiment is provided a second shutter 38 that is in the form of a lens cap or lens filter, such that it snap-fits or is threaded (or otherwise connected) to the front of the lens 12. The second shutter 38 is also connected by a cable 40 to the existing external flash connector 42 (“hot shoe”) of the camera (e.g. via a battery pack 44 mounted to the connector 42). The second shutter 38 may report itself to the camera 50 through the connector 42 as an external flash. As far as the camera 50 (and its internal computer processor) is aware, the camera 50 is connected to an external flash (which is actually the second shutter 38). The second shutter 38 is an electronically adjustable neutral density filter that is capable of changing from a highly-filtered state to a non-filtered (or minimally filtered) state very rapidly. The second shutter 38 may function similarly to an electronic shutter, except that it allows some light to pass through it when “closed” instead of no light. Thus, when the camera 10B takes its exposure readings, it takes it through the multiple-stop neutral density filter of the second shutter 38 (e.g. a three-stop or four-stop neutral density filter). The user selects the existing rear-curtain sync function on the camera (e.g. via a menu on a rear display of the camera). Since the camera 10B believes it is connected to an external flash, the camera 10B sets a relatively long shutter speed to capture some motion blur and then fires the “flash,” which in this case actually operates the second shutter 38 to open at the end of the exposure, thus increasing the light by multiple stops. This provides the desired motion blur effect, with the blurred image of the object trailing behind the clear, high-contrast image of the object.

This embodiment of the camera 10B has the advantage that it is provided as an accessory to be used with existing cameras. Several embodiments are described below that can be provided solely with existing camera hardware solely with image processing software, either on-camera or on a computer after the images are transferred to the computer. Of course, combinations of the above-described hardware and below-described software could also be used, not only for trailing motion blur but for other effects as well.

In another embodiment, the motion blur effect (or other effects) is provided by taking multiple images and then processing them. The processing could occur on-camera, using on-camera image processor 20 (FIGS. 1-3), or on a general purpose computer 60 (FIG. 17) having a processor 62 (general microprocessor and/or dedicated graphics processor), storage 64 (e.g. RAM, hard drive, or other electronic, magnetic and/or optical storage) and display 66.

It is common in digital photography for images to be stored as a series of numbers arranged in an array, such that each pixel of the image is given a number value assigned to its location in the image. The number values correlate to particular color hues, with all available color hues having distinct number values. When the image number array is referenced for display, the appropriate color hue associated with each number value will be displayed at the corresponding pixel location, and the image will be faithfully recreated.

It is important to note that in actual digital photography, three separate arrays may be used to store the color value of the image pixels, correlated to each pixel's value in either the red, green, or blue primary light color spectrum. Also, what is referred to color hue above may encompass a combination of a color's hue, tint, shade, brightness, lightness, colorfulness, chroma, and/or saturation. The techniques of this method apply not just to color images but to black and white or monochromatic images as well, as the color value of each pixel can be stored as a number value in an array correlated to that pixel's value in a monochromatic scheme.

The specific details of the qualities associated with an image's color palette are not important to this method, beyond the understanding that digital images can be stored as an arrayed series of numbers correlating to pixel values, and those values can be manipulated to change the appearance of the original image.

This method relies on the ability to photograph a series of images taken in rapid succession. Many modern digital cameras already possess this ability, and when the photos are taken of a moving body the resulting images will differ from one another only in the amount that the subject moved across the viewing angle. Stated more simply, when laid side-by-side the individual images would resemble pages torn from a flipbook animation, as the differences between successive images may be slight but the difference between the first and last may be greater.

It may also be possible to create the image series necessary for this method by utilizing individual frames from a video source. If conventional movie film were used, then successive frames could be stored as a digital images and the collection of those digital images could be used for this method. If digital video were to be used for this method, then screen shots from successive moments in time could be used as the required digital images.

Any single digital image can be stored as a two-dimensional array, image1[x][y], with each pixel's number value being associated to that pixel's position in the image at row x and column y. For a series of images each could be stored as its own two-dimensional array, image1[x][y], image2[x][y], image3[x][y], etc., or the series could be stored with each image being in its own z position in a three-dimensional array, imageseries[x][y][1], imageseries[x][y][2], imageseries[x][y][3], etc. For simplification of describing the algorithms involved in this method the series of images will be referred to in this manner as a three-dimensional array, with the general nomenclature of array1[x][y][z].

An example of how an image can be stored as an array is shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the image is actually is constructed from an array of integers with numerals acting as individual pixels within each image. A partial representation of an example image series is shown in FIGS. 5 through 9. In this particular image series, the background is depicted by a field of numeral 1s, along with a small diamond pattern of numeral 8s in the lower right corner. The moving body is depicted as a circular shape depicted by the numerals 0, 7, and 2. Along the top and the left of each image is a gray band with numerals identifying the column and row positions, respectively (24 rows and 48 columns).

The first step in the method is to execute a “smear function”. The output of the smear function will be an entirely new single image array which when recreated for viewing will appear to have a crisp recreation of all pixels common to the images in the series, along with a blending of the pixels whose number values change from image to image. The intensity of this blending can be adjusted within the smear function by the use of a variable hereto known as the “smear factor”. In general, the output image array of the smear function, hereto known as the “smeared array”, would resemble a photographic image taken with a long exposure.

The basic structure of the smear function is based on an iterative loop sequence which compares the corresponding pixel number values of successive images in the series and writes a number value to the smeared array in the same pixel location. If a pixel number value in a particular location of one image array is equal to the corresponding pixel number value in the same location of the next successive image in the series, then that same number value will be written to the same location in the smeared array. If the pixel number values differ in the same location between successive image arrays, then one or the other of the compared pixel number values will be written to the smeared array. In this case, the choice of which pixel number value to write to the smeared array is dependent on a selection algorithm within the smear function. One algorithmic method for making this choice is to use a simple counter, hereto known as the “smear counter”, that increases with each loop iteration, and the decision on which pixel number value to write to the smeared array is made by the referencing the value of the counter and using it in a decision function (for example, if the counter is even select the value from the former image in the series, and if it is odd select the value from the latter).

After the first loop iteration compares the first and second images of the series, an initial smeared array will be created that contains all of the common pixels of those two images along with a blending of the pixels which do not match. If the loop sequence were continued solely as described in the above paragraph, then with each successive comparison of two sequential image arrays the altered pixel number values in the preexisting smeared array could be overwritten by the selection algorithm. This would have the net effect of only comparing the last two images in the series. To resolve this issue and ensure that the smeared array contains pixel number values from each image in the series, the smear function has to keep track of which pixel locations in the smeared array have been chosen by the selection algorithm to be different from the pixel number values of the former of the images in the sequence, and it has to ensure that those specific pixel locations cannot be further changed by the smear function. This can be achieved by adding an additional dimension to each member of the smeared array or by creating an extra array parallel to the smeared array, whose values tell the selection algorithm whether a particular pixel location is to be protected from further alteration, hereto known as the “protection array”.

For example, a basic smear function loop sequence may look like this:

-   -   array1[24][48][14]—Acts as a series of 14 two-dimensional         arrays, each having 24 rows and 48 columns         -   In this case, 12 images are being read into the program to             be compared, each of which has 24 pixel rows and 48 pixel             columns (per the conventions of the C programming language,             zero is an available element location. These 12 images will             be saved in locations array1[x][y][0] through             array1[x][y][11])         -   The 13^(th) array will contain values which denote whether a             specific pixel location in the smeared array is to be             protected from further alteration (the protection array in             location array1[x][y][12])         -   The 14^(th) will be the output array of the smear function             (the smeared array in location array1[x][y][13])

sf—Is number variable whose value is the smear factor

a—Is number variable used as a counter

Earlier in the program, all values in array1[x][y][12] are set to 4

 sf = 5;  a = 1;  for (z=1;z<13;z++){ for (x=0;x<24;x++){  for (y=0;y<48;y++){ if (array1[x][y][z] != array1[x][y][z−1] && a == 1 && array1[x][y][12] != 10){  array1[x][y][13] = array1[x][y][z−1];  array1[x][y][12] = 10; } else {if (array1[x][y][12] != 10) array1[x][y][13] = array1[x][y][z−1]; } if (a == sf) a = 1 ; else a = a + 1 ;  } }  }

In the above example, each iteration of the “for (z=1;z<13;z++)” loop acts as a comparator of two successive images in the series at locations array1[x][y][z] and array1[x][y][z-1] for all x values (0-23) and y values (0-47). In this case, array1[x][y][z-1] is the former of the images in the series and array1[x][y][z] is the latter. For each [x][y] location in the smeared array (array1[x][y][13]), the value will be equal to that of the former of the images in the series unless each of three conditions is met:

1. The pixel number values are not equal in the same [x][y] location for the two compared image arrays (array1[x][y][z]!=array1[x][y][z-1]). This is the most basic element of the smear array, as it checks to see if the corresponding pixel number values between successive image arrays differ.

2. The counter function is equal to a particular value (a==1). A smear counter is incorporated in the “for (y=0;y<48;y++)” loop sequence in the form of an if-then-else statement (if (a==sf) a=1; else a=a+1;). This simply adds 1 to the value of a until a equals the value of sf (the smear factor) at which point the value of a is reset to 1. If the smear factor is given the value of 1, then the conditional statement a==1 would be true in every case and when the first two images of the series are compared all of the differing pixel number values of the latter image would be written to the smeared array and none of the former image pixel number values would be seen in the smeared array. If the smear factor is given a value of 2, then when the first two images of the series are compared every other differing pixel number value would be selected from the former image and then the latter image. If low smear factor values like 1 or 2 are used, then as the smear function progresses through successive images in the series fewer of the latter image pixel number values would be written to the smeared array and the resulting image would have an uneven blending which favors the earlier images in the series. By having the ability to change the smear factor, the smear function can be adapted to give the most desired blending for the images in the series. In the case above, a smear factor of 5 is used. Thus, for every 5 dissimilar corresponding pixel number values, only one is written to the smeared array (presuming it meets the other selection criteria).

3. The pixel location protection array is not equal to a particular value (array1[x][y][12]!=10). Earlier in the program, all of the values in the protection array are set to the arbitrary value of 4. So when the first two images of the series are compared, all dissimilar corresponding pixel number values are available to be written to the smeared array. An example of the smeared array after one iteration of the smear function is shown in FIG. 10. As dissimilar corresponding pixel number values are chosen by the selection function to write the former image values to the smeared array, an arbitrary value of 10 is assigned to the corresponding pixel location in the protection array (array1[x][y][12]). An example of the protection array after one iteration of the smear function is shown in FIG. 11. When the selection function is moving through successive images and recognizes dissimilar pixel number values it checks the value of the corresponding pixel location in the protection array. If that value is 10, then it skips writing any new value to the smeared array. This is achieved through an additional if statement added to the else condition of the selection function (if (array1[x][y][12]!=10) array1[x][y][13]=array1[x][y][z-1];). For example, in FIG. 11 the value at position row 2, column 7 is 10, therefore the pixel value at the same location in FIG. 10 (0) will remain unaltered for the duration of the smear function process. By contrast, in FIG. 11 the value at position row 2, column 8 is 4, therefore the pixel value in the same location in FIG. 10 (0) is free to be altered by the continuation of the smear function process.

As the code is written in the above smear function, the pixel number values from the former image will always be written to the smear array unless there is a value of 10 for a particular location in the protection array (FIG. 11). Because of this decision method, the smear array generated by the first iteration of the smear function (FIG. 10) will be identical to the first image in the series (FIG. 5). The protection array however, will have certain pixel location tagged with the number 10, and as successive iterations of the smear array are run those will be the only locations which are not overwritten. For example, in position row 7, column 7 in FIG. 11 there is a value of 10, and the corresponding protected value in FIG. 10 (2) is retained in the same location in the second iteration of the smear function (FIG. 12). It would be possible to write this function where only pixel number values from the latter of two successive images where to be written to the smear array either when those number are found to be equal or unequal. This change would create different patterns of retained pixel number values in the smear array.

The example smear function above uses ascending loop sequences, and thus the images in the series are compared to one another in ascending order. Additionally, the individual pixel number values are compared in an ascending order from the first row to the last and the first column to the last. If only this one basic smear function is used, it is likely that geometric patterns will emerge in the blended areas of the smeared array image because of the iterative nature of the function.

One method to alleviate possible recognizable patterning of the smeared array would be to use a series of smear functions, with each one comparing the successive images in different orders of ascending and descending loop sequences. For example, in the above example the rows of successive image arrays are compared in ascending order from 0 to 23 using the “for (x=0;x<24;x++)” algorithm. This could be changed to a “for (x=23;x>=0;x−−)” algorithm and the rows would be compared in descending order from 23 to 0. When applied to the three for loops in the smear function (x, y, and z counters), alternating the sequence of ascending and descending linear counters would allow for eight separate distinct smear functions. By combining the results of all, or any number, of these individual smear functions into one single smeared array, variations of geometric patterns could be achievable in the smeared array image (presumably from unnoticeable to very noticeable).

Conceivably, the loops used to step through the comparisons of pixel array values would not necessarily have to progress in a linear nature (ie., 1, 2, 3, as done by the x++ operator), but they could progress in an order dictated by a mathematical function or additional algorithm. This may be done to save processing time or memory storage requirements, or to further alleviate geometrical patterning in the smeared array.

Another way to alleviate geometrical patterning in the smeared array may be to use a varying smear factor value rather than a constant. It is possible that the smear factor value could be the product of a mathematical function or additional algorithm that references properties of the images themselves. This again could be done to save processing time or memory storage requirements.

In the smear function methods described above, images are compared to one another in order of succession and the function determines which pixel number values to output to the smeared array. With this first step through the smear function an initial smeared array is created and it grows closer to an accurate blending of all images in the series with each image comparison. It may also be possible to achieve the same or similar effect not by comparing successive images, but by comparing each image to the smeared array as it develops though each iteration.

Regardless of the exact algorithms, the process performed by the smear array can be summed up into three parts: 1. Compare corresponding pixels between images in a series, 2. Decide which pixels should be represented in the final aggregate image, and 3. Ensure that as the process carries out, the pixels intended to remain the aggregate image are unaltered.

The second step in this method for simulating second curtain sync is to overlay a clear image of the moving objet(s) on top of the smeared array, hereto known as the “(final position) overlay function”. As mentioned before the smeared array would appear just like a photograph taken with long exposure when recreated as an image, and thus it would not yet give a clear view of the moving object(s) in its final position. For example, although many of the pixels representing the moving body in FIG. 15 are matching those of the last image in the series, FIG. 9, it can be seen that many pixel values from all other images in the series are present as well. For example, the pixel value in position row 6, column 26 is 7 in FIG. 15, although that does not correspond to the same pixel value in the final image of the series, FIG. 9.

The way that this method creates the final position image overlay is by comparing the pixel number values of the final image in a series to those of two other image arrays within the series. In order to reproduce a clear image of a moving subject the overlay function cannot perform any kind of blending or smearing of pixel number values. Therefore it is critical to the method that all of the pixel number values associated with the moving subject in its final photographed position be written to the array associated with the final “second curtain sync” image, hereto known as the “overlaid array”.

Because a function looking for differences between two arrays will only be able to identify different pixel number values but not actually know which preceded which in the movement of an object, it would not work to simply compare the last image of a series to the first and keep the differing pixel number values from the latter image. That would not only give a clear view of the object in its last position, but it would also write background pixels from the final image over the pixels from the first position and any other pixels in the smeared array that were blended over the original position of the object. However, by comparing the final image to two other images in the series and only keeping the pixels from the final image that are different than both, the overlay function will only keep the pixel number values from the moving object(s) in its final position. Presumably, the overlay function would be most effective if comparing the final image in a series to the most dissimilar images possible from it and one another. So, it would likely be best to compare the final image to the first and one closest to the middle of the series (ie. for a 9 image series, compare image 9 to images 1 and 5).

For example, a basic overlay function loop sequence may look like this:

-   -   array1[x][y][0]—Is the first image array in a series (x and y         are the arbitrary first two dimension locations)     -   array1[x][y][5]—Is an image array near the middle of the series     -   array1[x][y][11]—Is the final image array in the series     -   array1[x][y][13]—Is the resultant array from the smear function,         whether the product of a single stage smear function or the         aggregate of a multi-stage smear function

for (x=0;x<24;x++){ for (y=0;y<48;y++){ if ( array1[x][y][11] != array1[x][y][0] && array1[x][y][11] != array1[x][y][5] ){ array1[x][y][13] = array1[x][y][11]; } } }

In the above example, each iteration of the “for (x=1;x<24;x++)” loop acts as a very simple comparator of the last image in the series to the first and one near the middle of the series, for all x values (0-23) and y values (0-47). When it recognizes that a pixel number value on the last image of the series (FIG. 9) differs from those in the same pixel location in both the first (FIG. 5) and the sixth (FIG. 8) image arrays, it writes the pixel number value in that location on the smeared array. This process will eventually transform the smeared array into the overlaid array (FIG. 16), by overwriting all of the pixel number values associated with the moving object in its final position directly over whatever pixel number values may have been on the smeared array in those same pixel locations. For example, in FIG. 9 the pixel value in row 6, column 26 is 0, and the value of 7 that had previously been in that location in the smeared array (FIG. 15) is changed to a value of 0 by the overlay function as it creates the overlaid array (FIG. 16). This overlaid array will then contain all of the pixel number values which when reproduced as an image will be the desired second curtain sync effect image.

In both the smear function and overlay function described above, pixel number values are compared to identify if they are precisely equal. In actual use, it may be necessary to apply a “variation factor” which would in effect add a tolerance to the pixel number value comparisons. Because of the slight variations that may exist between images of the same subject taken in rapid succession, it's possible that individual pixel number values may differ slightly in spite of representing the same object. By having a tolerance in the value comparisons, it may be possible to counteract those slight variations in an effective manner.

Further, in the functions as previously described, pixel number values are individually compared between successive images. It is conceivable that groups of pixel number values could be compared with each loop step rather than just two, in an effort to either save processing time or data storage requirements.

As previously stated, the processing methods described above made use of a single 3 dimensional array and all number values required were stored in that array. It is possible that a series of 2 dimensional arrays could be used in similar fashion, with each image being represented as a single 2 dimensional array. Further, the smeared array, protection array, and overlaid array would each be represented as a 2 dimensional array.

It is further conceivable that the methods described above could be used to compare a series of 3 dimensional images. To achieve this, each image could be stored as a 3 dimensional array and the series of arrays compared to one another with the use of additional comparison loops in the smear and overlay functions to account for the extra dimension of the images. Or, the series of images could be stored in a single 4 dimensional array with 4^(th) dimensional values being used to designated each individual image array and the smeared, protection, and overlaid arrays.

Conceivably, it would be possible to use two separate image capture devices (cameras) to create the desired second curtain sync effect. The first camera could capture a series of still images of a moving object, while a second camera captures a long exposure image of the same object for the same period of time. Instead of using the resultant of the smear function process, the overlay function could actually overwrite the long exposure image with specific pixels chosen from the last image in the series from the first camera.

The method as described above will generate an image with the second curtain sync effect. Variations of this same method could be used to generate other photographic effects. For example, if the overlay function is changed to give priority to the first image in the series so that pixel number values correlating to the moving object in its original position are written to the overlaid array rather than those from its final position, then the resulting image will show a clear view of the object in its original position and a blurred representation of the object leading to its final position. This will be the equivalent of a first curtain sync effect. By adjusting the overwriting priority of the overlay function to other images in the series, additional effects could be produced where a blurred representation of the moving object trails both behind and in front of a clear view of the object in the middle of its range of movement. Similarly, the overlay function could be run multiple times with overwrite priority given to different images in the series each time. The resulting image could show clear views of the moving object in multiple positions along its path of movement, with blurred representations of the object joining them.

Another interesting variation of this method could be created by continuing to display the smeared array image as the smear function progresses. The resulting display would appear like a video of a moving objet(s) but only as a blurred representation of the object as it moves. If an overlay function were utilized to produce a clear view of the moving object(s) in its final position, then the resulting video would appear to show the object(s) streaking to that position. Conceivably, a similar method could be used to show a clear view of a moving object(s) in its original position with a blurred representation of the object progressing toward its direction of travel. A combination of methods could create a video that shows an object(s) in a clear first position, a blurred representation of the object moving in the direction of motion, and then a clear view of the object in its final position.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on method steps are for convenient reference in dependent claims and do not signify a required sequence of performance unless otherwise indicated in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for creating a composite image from a series of images including the following steps: a) iteratively comparing a plurality of pairs of the series of images; b) based upon said step a), identifying pixel value differences between corresponding pixel locations in each pair of the images; c) selecting pixel values to pass along to each of a plurality of pixels in the composite image to create a smear; and d) protecting selected pixel values selected in said step c) so as to not allow them to be overwritten by subsequent iterations of said steps a-c).
 2. The method of claim 1 where the series of images include a common background and at least one moving body which changes location relative to the background among the series of images.
 3. The method of claim 1 where a variation factor is applied to permit a desired amount of tolerance as pixel values are compared in said steps a-c).
 4. The method of claim 1 where the pixel value comparisons in said step a) between each pair of images in the series are performed in a scanwise manner from any combination of directions.
 5. The method of claim 4 where the pixel value comparisons in said step a) between each pair of images in the series are performed in a scanwise manner from left to right and top to bottom.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein said step c) is performed more than once for at least one of the pairs of images utilizing at least two different scanning directions.
 7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of selectively choosing the pixel values to pass to the composite image in a linear fashion to create an even amount of spacing between selected pixel values.
 8. The method of claim 1 further including the step of selectively choosing the pixel values to pass to the composite image in a non-linear fashion to create an uneven amount of spacing between selected pixel values.
 9. The method of claim 1 where the series of images have at least three dimensions.
 10. A system for creating a composite image from a series of images comprising: a processor programmed to iteratively compare a plurality of pairs of the series of images and, based upon the comparison, identify pixel value differences between corresponding pixel locations in each pair of images; the processor is further programmed to select pixel values to pass along to each of a plurality of pixels in the composite image to create a smear and to protect the selected pixel values so as to not allow them to be overwritten by subsequent processing of others of the pairs of series of images.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further programmed to create a smear by choosing a portion of the dissimilar pixel values to pass along to the composite image.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further programmed to protect selected pixel values in order to prevent them from being overwritten by subsequent processing of additional pairs of the series of images.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further programmed to utilize an overlay function to allow some of the pixel values which have been shielded by the protection method to be overwritten in a new selection process.
 14. The system of claim 13 where the overlay function compares the pixel values from a first selected image in the series with the pixel values in corresponding locations in two other images in the series, and chooses the pixel values from the first selected image that differ from both of said two other images to overwrite any of the pixel values on the composite image.
 15. The system of claim 14 where the first selected image is a final image from the series of images, wherein said series of images includes a collection of photographs taken in rapid succession of the same scene.
 16. The system of claim 14 where the first selected image is a first image from the series of images, wherein said series of images includes a collection of photographs taken in rapid succession of the same scene.
 17. The system of claim 14 where the first selected image is a user-selected image from the series of images, wherein said series of images includes a collection of photographs taken in rapid succession of the same scene.
 18. The system of claim 10 where each of the images to be composited has at least three dimensions.
 19. The system of claim 13 where each of the images to be composited has at least three dimensions. 